Trump Weighs Pardons for Ghislaine Maxwell and Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs

President Trump's late endorsement of Matt Van Epps has upended the crowded GOP primary in Tennessee's 7th District, prompting at least two rivals to drop out and rally behind his pick. The seat, vacated by Rep. Mark Green in June, leans heavily Republican, and the outcome will influence Speaker Mike Johnson's slim House majority.

Elite U.S. universities are weighing whether to sign President Trump's "Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education," which swaps federal funding incentives for strict policy commitments. At Dartmouth, officials warn parts of the compact could clash with academic freedom, while USC faculty have unanimously denounced it. Some Texas regents, however, are eyeing its funding perks.

The Trump administration is exploring the sale of parts of its $1.6 trillion student loan portfolio to private investors, targeting high-performing loans held by about 45 million Americans. While officials see a chance to inject liquidity into federal coffers, critics warn the move could fragment the market and expose borrowers to predatory lending.

President Trump surprised aides and reporters when, during an Oct. 6 Oval Office exchange, he said he'd "have to look" at granting clemency to Ghislaine Maxwell, now serving 20 years for child sex trafficking. In the same interview, Trump confirmed that Sean "Diddy" Combs, recently sentenced for transportation to engage in prostitution, has formally asked for a pardon—raising fresh questions about the scope of the president's mercy power.

President Trump's latest Oval Office remarks – declaring there's "no reason to be good" other than to earn a spot in heaven – have intensified questions about his physical and mental state. Coupled with a CNN interview conducted entirely by text, visible bruising and a rare diagnosis of chronic venous insufficiency, observers say the president's recent conduct raises fresh doubts about his fitness for office.